Wad assembly for shotgun shell

ABSTRACT

A wad assembly for a shotgun shell, including two separately formed parts, one of which has a portion at one end for receiving the force of a powder charge, and has a split sleeve portion projecting toward its opposite end for receiving at least some of the shot. The second part is receivable within the shot sleeve of the first part, at a location to transmit axial forces to the shot charge, and includes a transverse wall for acting against the shot, and one or more posts which are bendable to changed conditions to allow for reception of different amounts of shot, and to also cushion the axial forces produced on firing.

United States Patent [:91

Kerzman 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] WAD ASSEMBLY FOR SHOTGUN SHELL 1761 Inventor: Jack A. Kerzman, 18606 East Leadora Avenue, Glcndora, Calif. 91702 221 Filed: I Oct. 19, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 81,690

[52] 11.8. C1. ..102/42 C, 102/95 '[51] IntJCI. ..F42b 7/06, F42b 7/08 [58] Field of Search ..102/42, 42 C, 95

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,503,332 3/1970 De Gregorio..' ..l02/95 3,394,654 7/1968 l-layashi ....102/42 C 3,469,527 9/1969 Pace ....102/42 C 3,262,392 7/1966 Becker et a1 ....l02/42 C 3,285,174 11/1966 Moelman et a1. ..102/42 C Lage 102/42 C Rempel ..l02/95 Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl Att0rneyWilliam P. Green 57] ABSTRACT A wad assembly for a shotgun shell, including two separately formed parts, one of which has a portion at one end for receiving the force of a powder charge,

and has a split sleeve'portion projecting toward its opposite end for receiving at least some of the shot. 'The second part is receivable within the shot sleeve of the first part, at a location to transmit axial forces to the shot charge, and includes a transverse wall for acting against the shot, and one or more posts which are bendable to changed conditions to allow for reception of different amounts of shot, and to also cushion the axial forces produced on firing.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 1 WAD ASSEMBLY FOR SHOTGUN SHELL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved wad assembly to be positioned between the powder and shot charge in a shotgun shell.

Though in recent years a number of different types of specially shaped wad structures have been placed on the market for use in shotgun shells, each of these prior arrangements with which I am familiar has had one or more distinct disadvantages in actual use. As an example, one of the currently available wads is a one piece unit having a powder contacting portion at one end, a shot receiving cup at its opposite end, and a deformable .portion between .the two firstmentioned portions for cushioning the forces exerted by the powder upon firing. One difficulty which has been encountered with this type of one piece structure has been the tendency forthe powder contacting portion of the device to cock relative to the shot receiving cup upon firing, as a result of the inability of the resiliently deformable intermediate portion to maintain the two ends of the device in properly fixed relative orientation. If the powder contacting portion does cock on firing, some of the force of the gases of combustion may leak past that portion, or may exert their forces unevenly in a manner adversely affecting the shot pattern, accuracy, firing range, or other firing characteristics of the gun or shell.

Another disadvantage of most prior wad structures has resided in their lack of versatility for use with different sizes of shot charge, different types of shell case, etc. This limitation has been especially bothersome to persons who like, when possible, to reload used shells in order to reduce the cost of shooting. Since most of the types of wads heretofore on the market have been adapted for use with only one size shot charge, and in only one type of shell case, a person who reloads shells has in the past found it necessary to keep on hand a number of different types of wads, in order to be in a position to reload different types of shells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unique wad assembly which very effectively overcomes the above and other disadvantages of the various prior wad structures of which I am aware. For one thing, a wad assembly embodying the invention is designed to positively preclude any possibility of cocking of the portion of the wad which receives the gas force, relative to the portion of the wad which contains the shot charge, to thereby avoid the above discussed possibility of gas leakage, pattern distortion, etc. Additionally, the wad assembly is constructed to enable its use in different types of shells, and especially with different sizes of shot load, so that a person who reloads shells can employ the single type of wad assembly in a number of different types of casing and different load size situations.

At the same time, the wad is very simple in structure and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and use.

Structurally, a wad assembly embodying the invention includes two separately formed parts, which are secured together for handling as a single unit during the loading procedure. A first of these parts of the assembly has a portion at one of its ends which functions essentially as a piston against which the force of the gases of combustion produced by the propellant powder are exerted upon firing. The opposite end of the same part forms a longitudinally slit sleeve or cup within which a portion or all of the shot charge is received, and which functions to protect the shot against contact with the barrel of the gun on firing.

The second part of the assembly is contained within the shot protecting sleeve of the first part, and is axially compressible to cushion the gas force as applied to the shot charge. This second part also is compressible axially to a variable extent during loading, in a manner enabling automatic accommodation to and reception of different sizes of shot load, to thus permit the above discussed use of the single wad assembly with varying loads within a relatively wide size range.

To achieve these results, the second or internal part of the assembly is molded to a unique shape in which it forms a generally transverse wall adapted to engage and exert force against the shot charge on firing, and one or more posts or columns which project from that wall and are bendable to changed conditions in response to the exertion of axial forces thereon, in a manner yieldingly resisting axial compression of that second part. Preferably, the posts are connected at their second ends to a second generally transverse wall, which bears against a transverse surface on the first or outer part of the assembly. Also, it is desirable that the second or inner part be yieldingly retained within the first part in an appropriate manner by suitable detenting means, to hold the two parts together while handling them during a loading operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view through a shot gun shell having a first form of wad assembly constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the shell as it appears when provided with a heavier shot charge than that employed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary representation of a portion of the device of FIG. I or FIG. 2 after firing and during movement through the gun barrel;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the inner part of the wad assembly, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sections taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partially broken away, of the outer part of the wad assembly shown separately;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inner element of a variational form of wad assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the changed structure of FIG. 9; and,

FIG. I1 is a horizontal section taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, I have illustrated at 10 a shot gun shell having a conventional case 11 which includes the usual tubular side wall or body element 12 and a metal cup or base element 13 extending across one end of the case. Within cup 13, there may be provided an annular filler element 14 containing a primer 15 adapted to ignite the propellant powder 16 when unit 15 is struck by the firing pin of a gun. As will be apparent, the main body or side wall element 12 of the shell case is both internally and externally cylindrical, and it has its upper end crimped inwardly at 17 to close the upper end of the shell.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the construction of a wad assembly 18 which is provided within the shot case, and which is interposed between the powder charge 16 and the shot charge 19. Assembly 18 consists of two separately formed elements, including a first outer part 20, and an axially compressible second part 21 located within the interior of part 20. Both of these parts 20 and 21 may be molded from a suitable resinous plastic material which is so compounded or selected as to be essentially stiff or rigid in the thicker regions of the two parts, but to be resiliently deformable at the thinner regions. A presently preferred plastic material for this purpose is polyethylene.

The outer part 20 of the wad assembly has a lower portion 22 forming a wall disposed transversely across the interior of tubular side wall element 12 of the shell case, and shaped to form essentially a piston which is forced axially from the shell case by the pressure of the gases of combustion from propellant charge 16 upon firing. This piston portion 22 of part 20 may have an upper essentially planar surface 23 disposed perpendicular t0 axis 24 of the shell, and may have a concave undersurface 25 which is centered about and symmetrical with respect to axis 24 and defines a piston cup having an annular peripheral downwardly projecting reduced thickness edge 26 forming a sealing lip of the cup. At its underside, portion 22 of the outer part 20 of the wad assembly fits directly over and contacts the upper surface of the mass of propellant powder 16. EX- ternally, portion 22 has an outer straight cylindrical surface 27 of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of side wall or body element 12 of the case, and fitting closely within that side wall element in annularly sealed relation.

Projecting upwardly from the periphery of lower piston portion 22 of the outer part 20 of the wad assembly, the material of part 20 forms a tubular shot protector sleeve 28. The outer surface 29 of the sleeve is of straight cylindrical configuration, centered about axis 24, and forms an upward continuation of cylindrical outer surface 27 of the lower portion 22 of part 20. Thus, the outer surface of sleeve 28 is a close fit within, and lines, the inner surface of side wall element 12 of the case. The inner surface 30 of sleeve 28 is also of straight cylindrical shape, and centered about axis 24, and disposed parallel to and concentric with outer surface 29. The side wall of sleeve 28 is very thin radially, and therefore is relatively freely flexible. This side wall is also split longitudinally by a series of circularly spaced axial slits 31 into a series of arcuate segments or fingers 32, which are adapted to be flexed outwardly to a flaring condition by the resistance of the air'as soon as they leave the gun barrel after firing.

At a location spaced upwardly just slightly above the plane of upper transverse surface 23 of the lower portion 22 of part 20, the tubular sleeve 28 may contain an annular inwardly projecting detent shoulder or bead 33, centered about axis 24 of the shell. As will appear, this detent shoulder is utilized to retain the second part 21 of the wad assembly within the interior of part 20. Preferably, shoulder 33 is rounded or of gradually curvingconfiguration at both its upper and lower sides, as seen best in FIG. 3. Also, it is desirable that the lower ends 34 of the longitudinal slits 31 in sleeve 28 terminate at a level just above the location of shoulder or bead 33, in order that the side wall of the lower portion of the sleeve may be circularly continuous at the location of the bead, and therefore may serve its detenting function effectively. The upper end of sleeve 28 may be cut off transversely, to form an upper edge 35 of the sleeve lying in a plane disposed perpendicular to axis 24 of the shell, and which edge may extend upwardly to substantially the location of the inturned crimped top portion 17 of the shell case.

The inner part 21 of the wad assembly 18 of the first form of the invention is molded to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, in which it occupies a very substantial portion of the axial extent of sleeve 28, but not the entire length of the sleeve, to leave room at the upper end of the sleeve for reception ofa relatively small load of shot 19. Part 21 includes two essentially rigid upper and lower transverse discs 36 and 37, interconnected by a first pair of deformable resilient posts 38 and 39 at a first side of the shell, and a second pair of similar posts 40 and 41 at the opposite side of the shell. These posts are molded integrally with the two transverse end walls or discs 36 and 37, and are thinner than those discs, and in particular thin enough to deform in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The discs themselves are substantially rigid or stiff, to avoid substantial deformation prior to or during firing. Each of the discs may have an outer cylindrical peripheral surface 42 or 43 which is a close fit within the interior of sleeve 28. This surface 43 of the lower disc 37 has a diameter slightly greater than the minimum diameter of the detent rib 33, so that it must be forced axially past that rib upon insertion of part 21 into part 20, with slight radial expansion of the rib during movement of disc 37 therepast, to thereby resiliently retain the lower disc 37 and the rest of part 21 in the FIG. 1 assembled position of reception within part 20. As seen best in FIG. 3, the periphery of disc 37 may be cut away annularly at 44 to a slightly reduced diameter to receive and coact with detent rib or projection 33 in a most effective holding relation, and in a manner enabling positioning of the rib 33 very close to the plane of transverse surface 23 of part 20. When part 21 is in its fully inserted position of FIG. 1 within part 20, the undersurface 45 of bottom wall or disc 37 is received and held in engagement with surface 23 of part 20, while at the same time rib or detent projection 33 is in engagement downwardly against the periphery of disc 37, as shown.

Each of the bendable connector posts 38, 39, 40 and 41 is elongated vertically between the two discs 36 and 37, and is preshaped to bend in a predetermined direction and manner upon imposition of axial compressive forces against part 21. For example, to

describe specifically the configuration of theright handpost 39 of FIG. 1, as that post advances downwardly from top disc 36 it forms first an inwardly inclined straight portion 46, which at approximately the vertically midway point merges with an oppositely and outwardly inclined straight portion 47 connected at its lower end to bottom disc 37. As will be apparent, the opposite inclinations of the two upper and lower portions 46 and 47 of post 39, and the resulting essentially V-shaped configuration of the post as a whole, preconditions the post for bending in a predetermined lateral direction upon exertion of compressive force against part 21. That is, upon such compression, post 39 tends to bend in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 at the vertically intermediate location 48, which constitutes the juncture of upper and lower portions 46 and 47 and the apex of the V formed by these portions. To further assure bending of the post in only the desired predetermined direction, the post is given a cross-section such as that illustrated in FIG. 5, 6 and 7, which cross-section is uniform along the entire vertical extent of the post, and which cross-section is characterized by a reduced thickness dimension 1 in the desired direction of bend, and a somewhat greater width dimension w in a direction perpendicular to the direction of bend. In FIG. 5, the plane within which post 39 is initially bent, and within which it continues to bend upon exertion of axial compressive force against part 21, is defined by the broken line 50 of that figure. To discuss the cross section of post 39 more specifically, this cross-section may be defined by a straight line 51 which is perpendicular to the bend plane 50 and faces in the direction in which the post bends, and at the opposite side two angular lines 52 and 53 meeting at the plane 50 of the bend.

All of the four posts 38 through 40 have approximately the same configuration as that discussed above in connection with post 39, except that the posts are oriented differently to bend in predetermined different relative directions upon compression of part 21. This difference in orientation of the various posts is perhaps described best by reference to two perpendicular diametrical planes designated 54 and 55 in FIG. 5. The two posts 38 and 39 are connected to discs 36 and 37 to the right of plane 55, and are constructed to bend leftwardly toward that plane, while the other two posts are connected to the discs at the left side of plane 55, and bend rightwardly toward that plane. Posts 38 and 39 are located at opposite sides of and are symmetrical with respect to the second plane 54 of FIG. 5, and similarly the two posts 40 and 41 form a pair of such posts, and are located at opposite sides of and symmetrical with respect to plane 54. The previously mentioned plane of bend 50 of post 39, and the corresponding plane of bend 50a of post 38, are' generally parallel to one another so that the two posts bend leftwardly in generally parallel relation and at opposite sides of plane 54. To retain posts 38 and 39 against separation during such bending these posts may be interconnected at a location near their centers by a thin integral connecting strap 56 which moves leftwardly in FIGS. 1 and 5 as the posts bend.

The two posts 40 and 41 are so oriented that their planes of bend 50b and 50c (corresponding to plane 50 of post 39) diverge away from one another and away from plane 54 as they advance rightwardly in FIG. 5.

This divergence is sufficiently great to cause the central bend regions of posts 40 and 41 to be offset laterally outwardly with respect to the bends of the two posts 38 and 39 when the part 21 is fully compressed to FIG. 3 condition. That is, the bends of the two posts 38 and 39 are received between and overlap the bends of the two widely flaring posts 40 and 41 in the fully compressed condition of FIG. 3 (broken line condition of FIG. 6). In order to allow this flaring action, there is of course no strap interconnecting posts 40 and 41 and corresponding to the strap 56 which connects posts 38 and 39. All of the posts are thin enough in the direction 1 to enable the desired bending movement through the FIG. 2 condition and to the FIG. 3 condition, but at the same time are thick enough in that direction to offer very substantial resistance to such bending of the posts, and thereby yieldingly and resiliently resist compression of part 21. Upon release of axial forces exerted against part 21, this part tends to return to its initial axially extended condition of FIG. 1, by virtue of the resilience of the polyethylene or other material of which the part is formed.

To now describe the manner of use of the discussed wad assembly of FIGS. 1 to 8, assume first of all that the shell case 11 is empty, and that it is desired to load the shell with a relatively small amount of shot. With the upper end of the shot case open, a predetermined measured quantity of the propellant powder 16 is first filled into the shell case, following which the wad assembly, including both of the parts 20 and 21 held together by detent ring 33, is inserted into the case as a unit above the powder. Next, the measured amount of shot 19 is inserted into the upper end of sleeve 28, and the upper end ofthe case is crimped over at 17 to close the shell. Upon firing of the shell, within a gun barrel, the force exerted by the gases of combustion produced by propellant powder 16 act against the piston portion 22 of part 20 to force the entire wad and the following shot charge 19 axially out of the forward end of the shot case, and through the barrel for ultimate exit from the barrel. The annular sealing lip 26 of part 20 is by virtue of its reduced thickness sufficiently deformable to be forced radially outwardly in annular fluid type sealing engagement with the inner surface of the shot case, and with the gun barrel itself, to thereby positively prevent the escape of any of the gases of combustion axially past the wad structure. The axial forces are transmitted to inner wad part 21 by engagement of surface 23 with bottom disc 37 of part 21, and are transmitted through posts 39 through 41 of part 21 to the upper disc 36, and then to shot charge 19. These forces are great enough to cause rapid axial compression of part 21 to the reduced dimension condition illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the posts 38 through 41 are bent to their fully deformed condition, and discs 36 and 37 are in very closely spaced relation. The resistance to such bending which is offered by the posts effectively cushions the transmissions of axial forces from the wad assembly to the shot charge, in a manner minimizing recoil of the gun, preventing damage to the shot charge, and assuring most effective transmission of all of the power of the gases of combustion thereto. As the wad and shot move axially through the barrel, all of the shot is further protected by confinement within the interior of sleeve 28, which thereby protects the shot against contact with the gun barrel itself. As soon as the shot and wad leave the forward end of the gun barrel, the resistance to wad movement offered by the contacted air causes the segments or fingers 32 of the forward sleeve portion 28 of the wad assembly to flare outwardly away from one another to an expanded condition out of contact with the shot charge, with the air resistance then immediately slowing the wad assembly to avoid any further contact of the wad with the shot charge.

If it is desired to utilize a heavier shot load in the shell, this may be done by merely measuring the desired increased amount of shot and inserting it to the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, with the inner part of the wad being forcibly compressed by forces exerted against it through the shot during loading, and until the part 21 has reached a suitable partially compressed condition in which the upper end of the shot case can be crimped closed with the proper load in the case. Thus, any desired load from a very light load such as that shown in FIG. 1 to a relatively heavy load can be provided as desired by the shooter. When the shell of FIG. 2 is fired, the part 21 completes its compression to the FIG. 3 condition, to again cushion the transmission of forces to the shot charge and thereby attain the advantages previously discussed.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show fragmentarily a variational form of the invention which may be considered as identical with the form of FIGS. 1 to 8 except with regard to the construction of the inner axially compressible part 21' of the wad assembly, corresponding to part 21 of FIGS. 1 to 8. The outer element 20 of the FIGS. 9 to 11 wad assembly may be the same as part 20 of FIGS. 1 to 8.

Inner wad element 21' includes two typically identical circular parallel discs 36' and 37', whose upper and lower parallel surfaces are disposed transversely of axis 24' of the shell and wad assembly, and whose outer cylindrical surfaces 42 and 43' are dimensioned to be close fits within the inner cylindrical surface 30' of part 20. The lower disc 37' may be of a thickness to fit axially between detenting rib 33 of part 20 and transverse surface 23' of that part, to snap past rib 33 and thereby detent part 21 within part 20" in the same manner discussed in connection with the first form of wad assembly.

Instead of the four connecting posts 38, 39, 40 and 41 of FIGS. 1 to 8, the arrangement of FIGS. 9 to 11 utilizes only two generally axial posts 38' and 39', molded integrally with and interconnecting the two spaced transverse discs 36' and 37' at diametrically opposite locations with respect to axis 24. These posts 38' and 39 are initially molded to the configuration illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 10, and are axially compressible to the full line condition of that figure, but have resilience tending to normally return the posts toward their initial broken line condition. To describe that initial shape more specifically, post 38' has two parallel radially inner and outer surfaces 57 and 58 which in advancing downwardly from upper disc 36 first advance gradually radially inwardly toward axis 24' to a vertically central location 59, and then advance progressively radially outwardly at an opposite angularity as they approach bottom .disc 37. The second post 39 is of the same generally V-shaped configuration, but is reversed so that the vertically central portions 59 and 59' of the two posts project toward one another. As seen in FIG. 11, the horizontal cross sectional configuration of each of the posts 38 and 39 is elongated, to have a width dimension w in a direction perpendicular to a predetermined axial plane 54 which is considerably greater than the thickness dimension 1 parallel to that plane, to thus facilitate bending of the posts toward one another. The plane 54 may be considered as the plane in which the broken line axially extended representation of inner wad element 21 in FIG.

10 is taken. Thus, the relatively thin 'V-shaped posts have an initial deflection toward one another, and upon axial compression of element 21' increase that bent condition toward the full line condition of FIG. 10. It is noted that, in contradistinction to the posts of the first form of the invention, the posts 38' and 39 of FIGS. 9 to 11' are never deflected far enough to reach or pass one another, but rather even in the fully compressed condition shown in full lines in FIG. 10 have their vertically intermediate portions 59 and 59 either spaced slightly from one another or barely touching, to avoid interference with one another. At the locations at which the posts are connected to end discs 36' and37', the ends of the posts are spaced slightly inwardly from the periphery of the discs, as illustrated for example at 60 in FIG. 9, to avoid interference by the posts with annular detenting engagement of the upper surface of lower disc 37 with detenting rib 33 of the outer element 20.

The arrangement of FIGS. 9 to 11 is utilized in the same manner discussed in connection with FIG. 8. That is, powder is first filled into the lower portion of the outer shell case, following which the wad assembly 202l is placed in the case, with a desired load of shot being applied above the wad assembly, and with inner wad element 21' being compressed against its resilience to an intermediate condition such as that shown in FIG. 2 if a heavy load of shot is to be employed. The shot and wad are retained in this condition by crimping of the upper end of the case. Upon firing, the resilient inner element 21 is further compressed to the full line condition of FIG. 10, to take up a portion of the shock'of the propellant charge, and the wad assembly and shot then move axially through the barrel for discharge therefrom, and for ultimate separation of the parts of the wad assembly from the shot by virtue of the resistance offered to the wad assembly by the air, as discussed previously.

While certain specific embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to these particular forms, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projects axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end of the sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve. and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said piston being constructed to block movement of said inner part into said sleeve in the opposite direction from said first end of said outer part, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston for transmitting forces to said shot charge, said inner part forming at least one post integral with and projecting from said second wall toward said piston and constructed to bend to a changed condition upon exertion of said axial forces but to yieldingly resist said bending in a relation cushioning the transmission of said forces, said outer part forming a first detent shoulder, and said inner part forming a coacting second detent shoulder adapted to be forced past said first shoulder upon said insertion of said inner part axially through said open end of the sleeve toward said piston and to then retain said inner part against reverse movement in a direction away from said piston and out said open end of the sleeve.

2. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said slits formed in said sleeve terminate short of said first detent shoulder, said sleeve being circularly continuous at the location of said first shoulder.

3. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which both of said shoulders are essentially annular.

4. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part includes a plurality of said posts projecting generally axially inwardly from said second wall, and a connecting structure integral with said posts and connecting together their axially inner ends and located near said piston, said posts being bendable at locations axially between said second wall and said connecting structure.

5. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which there are a plurality of said posts extending generally axially near said sleeve and having axially inner end portions connected together and portions intermediate the opposite ends of said posts which are bendable radially inwardly away from the sleeve and generally toward one another by the force of said powder charge.

6. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said first detent shoulder is formed in said outer part at a location near said wall formed by the piston, and said second detent shoulder is formed on said inner part at essentially the axially inner end of said post near said wall formed by the piston.

7. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a third wall at the axially inner end of said post generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston.

8. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a third wall at the axially inner end of said post generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said second detent shoulder being formed on said inner part at the periphery of said third wall.

9. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a plurality of said posts projecting generally axially inwardly from said second wall, and

carrying at axially inner ends of said posts a third wall extending generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said posts being connected at opposite ends to said second and third walls near their peripheries and having portions longitudinally intermediate said ends which are deformable radially inwardly and generally toward one another by said force of the powder charge, said first detent shoulder being formed within a circularly continuous portion of said sleeve axially beyond the inner extremities of said slits in the sleeve, said second detent shoulder being formed on the periphery of said third wall.

10. A wad assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said longitudinally intermediate portions of said posts are deflectible generally toward one another to positions overlapping one another but offset laterally to avoid interferring contact with one another.

11. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projects axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end ofthe sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve, and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said wall of the piston being constructed and positioned to block movement of said inner part into said sleeve in the opposite direction from said first end of said outer part, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston, a plurality of posts formed integrally with said second wall and projecting therefrom in a generally axially inward direction toward said piston, and a connecting structure formed integrally with said posts at the axially inner ends thereof and connecting said inner ends of the posts together at a location adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said posts having portions axially intermediate said second wall and said connecting structure and axially intermediate the opposite ends of said posts and which are constructed to bend to a changed condition upon exertion of said axial forces but to yieldingly resist said bending in a relation cushioning the transmission of said forces.

12. A wad assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said connecting structure is a third wall spaced from and generally parallel to said second wall and positioned adjacent said piston, said second and third walls being circular and ofa diameter corresponding approximately to the internal diameter of said sleeve.

13. A wad assembly as recited in claim 11, in which said posts have their ends connected to said second wall and said structure at locations near said sleeve, said intermediate portions of the posts being bendable generally radially inwardly away from the sleeve by the force of said powder charge.

14. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projects axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and' receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end of the sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve, and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston for transmitting forces to said shot charge, said inner part forming a plurality of posts integral with and projecting from said second wall toward said piston and constructed to bend to changed portions intermediate the ends of the two posts which are bendable generally toward one another and toward said plane to positions at which they both intersect said plane and overlap one another in the direction of their flexure but are offset laterally within said plane with respect to one another in a relation avoiding substantial interference with one another.

15. A wad assembly as recited in claim 14, in which there are two pairs of said posts at opposite sides respectively of said plane and bendable toward the plane to positions at which both pairs intersect the plane and overlap one another but are offset laterally to avoid interference with one another.

16. A wad assembly as recited in claim 15, in which the posts of one of said pairs intersect said plane laterally between the posts of the other pair.

17. A wad assembly as recited in claim 15, in which a the posts of one of said pairs intersect said plane conditions upon exertion of said axial forces but to laterally between the posts of the other pair, said posts of said other pair being constructed to flare relatively apart as they bend, in a relation to receive the posts of said one pair therebetweenl 18. A wad assembly as recited in claim is, in which the posts of one of. said pairs intersect said plane laterally between the posts of the other pair, there being a strap extending laterally between and interconnecting said posts ofsaid one pair. 

1. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projects axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end of the sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve, and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said piston being constructed to block movement of said inner part into said sleeve in the opposite direction from said first end of said outer part, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston for transmitting forces to said shot charge, said inner part forming at least one post integral with and projecting from said second wall toward said piston and constructed to bend to a changed condition upon exertion of said axial forces but to yieldingly resist said bending in a relation cushioning the transmission of said forces, said outer part forming a first detent shoulder, and said inner part forming a coacting second detent shoulder adapted to be forced past said first shoulder upon said insertion of said inner part axially through said open end of the sleeve toward said piston and to then retain said inner part against reverse movement in a direction away from said piston and out said open end of the sleeve.
 2. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said slits formed in said sleeve terminate short of said first detent shoulder, said sleeve being circularly continuous at the location of said first shoulder.
 3. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which both of said shoulders are essentially annular.
 4. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part includes a plurality of said posts projecting generally axially inwardly from said second wall, and a connecting structure integral with said posts and connecting together their axially inner ends and located near said piston, said posts being bendable at locations axially between said second wall and said connecting structure.
 5. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which there are a plurality of said posts extending generally axially near said sleeve and having axially inner end portions connected together and portions intermediate the opposite ends of said posts which are bendable radially inwardly away from the sleeve and generally toward one another by the force of said powder charge.
 6. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said first detent shoulder is formed in said outer part at a location near said wall formed by the piston, and said second detent shoulder is formed on said inner part at essentially the axially inner end of said post near said wall formed by the piston.
 7. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a third wall at the axially inner end of said post generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston.
 8. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a third wall at the axially inner end of said post generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said second detent shoulder being formed on said inner part at the periphery of said third wall.
 9. A wad assembly as recited in claim 1, in which said inner part forms a plurality of said posts projecting generally axially inwardly from said second wall, and carrying at axially inner ends of said posts a third wall extending generally parallel to said second wall and receivable adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said posts being connected at opposite ends to said second and third walls near their peripheries and having portions longitudinally intermediate said ends which are deformable radially inwardly and generally toward one another by said force of the powder charge, said first detent shoulder being formed within a circularly continuous portion of said sleeve axially beyond the inner extremities of said slits in the sleeve, said second detent shoulder being formed on the periphery of said third wall.
 10. A wad assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said longitudinally intermediate portions of said posts are deflectible generally toward one another to positions overlapping one another but offset laterally to avoid interferring contact with one another.
 11. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projects axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end of the sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve, and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said wall of the piston being constructed and positioned to block movement of said inner part into said sleeve in the opposite direction from said first end of said outer part, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston, a plurality of posts formed integrally with said second wall and projecting therefrom in a generally axially inward direction toward said piston, and a connecting structure formed integrally with said posts at the axially inner ends thereof and connecting said inner ends of the posts together at a location adjacent said wall formed by the piston, said posts having portions axially intermediate said second wall and said connecting structure and axially intermediate the opposite ends of said posts and which are constructed to bend to a changed condition upon exertion of said axial forces but to yieldingly resist said bending in a relation cushioning the transmission of said forces.
 12. A wad assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said connecting structure is a third wall spaced from and generally parallel to said second wall and positioned adjacent said piston, said second and third walls being circular and of a diameter corresponding approximately to the internal diameter of said sleeve.
 13. A wad assembly as recited in claim 11, in which said posts have their ends connected to said second wall and said structure at locations near said sleeve, said intermediate portions of the posts being bendable generally radially inwardly away from the sleeve by the force of said powder charge.
 14. A wad assembly for use in a shotgun shell case, comprising an outer part to be received in said case and forming at a first end of said part a piston for receiving the force of a powder charge and providing a gas seal with said case, said outer part forming also a tubular sleeve which is integral with said piston and projEcts axially therefrom toward the second end of said part and to an open end of the sleeve for lining said case and receiving at least a portion of a shot charge, said sleeve having slits extending along its side wall from said open end of the sleeve toward said piston to divide at least a portion of the sleeve into a plurality of fingers adapted to spread outwardly on firing, said piston forming a wall extending across an inner end of said sleeve, and an inner part insertible axially into said sleeve through said open end thereof in a direction toward said piston and operable to transmit axial forces from said piston to said shot charge, said inner part forming a second wall disposed across said sleeve at a location spaced from said wall of the piston for transmitting forces to said shot charge, said inner part forming a plurality of posts integral with and projecting from said second wall toward said piston and constructed to bend to changed conditions upon exertion of said axial forces but to yieldingly resist said bending in a relation cushioning the transmission of said forces, said posts including two posts which are located at opposite sides of an axially extending plane located therebetween and which have portions intermediate the ends of the two posts which are bendable generally toward one another and toward said plane to positions at which they both intersect said plane and overlap one another in the direction of their flexure but are offset laterally within said plane with respect to one another in a relation avoiding substantial interference with one another.
 15. A wad assembly as recited in claim 14, in which there are two pairs of said posts at opposite sides respectively of said plane and bendable toward the plane to positions at which both pairs intersect the plane and overlap one another but are offset laterally to avoid interference with one another.
 16. A wad assembly as recited in claim 15, in which the posts of one of said pairs intersect said plane laterally between the posts of the other pair.
 17. A wad assembly as recited in claim 15, in which the posts of one of said pairs intersect said plane laterally between the posts of the other pair, said posts of said other pair being constructed to flare relatively apart as they bend, in a relation to receive the posts of said one pair therebetween.
 18. A wad assembly as recited in claim 15, in which the posts of one of said pairs intersect said plane laterally between the posts of the other pair, there being a strap extending laterally between and interconnecting said posts of said one pair. 